Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Chairman of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, announced today that the Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission (SFHRC) will receive $152,975 to provide housing and transition services for up to 25 homeless veterans in the Sioux Falls area. The funding is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

“We have a responsibility to the men and women who have served our country in uniform. These funds will help homeless veterans get back on their feet, with permanent housing and counseling,” said Johnson. “The Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee I chair has been collaborating with the Administration to make sure all those who served our country have a roof over their head. We have made some progress, but there is still work to be done.”

HUD-VASH is a joint program between HUD and the VA, providing permanent housing and ongoing treatment services to veterans. The funding announced today will provide housing vouchers for 25 homeless veterans, to help cover the cost of modestly-priced private housing in the Sioux Falls area. HUD provides housing assistance through SFHRC, and the VA provides outreach, clinical care and ongoing case management services through the Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls.                                                                      

The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over housing issues. In addition to this role, Johnson is also Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee and helped to secure $939 million in FY2012 for this and other programs to address veterans’ homelessness.  This includes $202 million for continued HUD-VASH care and case management services.

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